Write short notes on the following: Android Operating System

Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touch screen mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers. Android was unveiled in 2007 along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance which is a consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. The first Android-powered phone was sold in October 2008. It is open source and Google releases the code under the Apache License. This open source code and permissive licensing allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Additionally, Android has a large community of developers writing applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of devices, written primarily in a customized version of the Java programming language.